Ctenucha virginica

Hi – I saw your wonderful site yesterday and I’m hoping you can identify the strangest moth or butterfly I’ve seen. My friend lives a short distance northwest of Chicago and saw this moth late at night. The body is a beautiful irridescent greenish color, with a brilliant orange head. Thank you ~ Dawn

Hi Dawn, You have a photograph of the Virginia Ctenucha, a type of Wasp Moth, because they seem to mimic stinging insects. They are usually spotted in May and June taking nector from blackberry blossoms. They are relatively common in the Appalachian faunal region. The caterpillar is a yellow wooly creature that feeds on grasses.